What to look for in a new Driveway

April 16, 2013 By

When it comes to creating your dream driveway, it is always best to do some pre-planning beforehand as this will identify any issues which you may not have thought about initially.

A new driveway should be wide enough to accomodate easy parking, should be strong enough to cope with even the most heaviest of trucks whilst being weatherproof to withstand the most harshest of seasons.

In terms of materials used, again, it is always advisable to do your homework on different suppliers to get a better understanding of the different types of materials and the associated costs. Another good idea is to speak to a driveway specialist as they will usually have great contacts and will usually be able to source the same materials but at a reduced cost.

Once you have pre-planned your driveway and identified the type of materials you would like to use, now you need to select a driveway specialist that will create your dream driveway for you.

When selecting a driveway specialist, first and foremost you want to see their portfolio of previous driveway projects that they have completed. Most driveway specialists will have a website which you can consult, however, most will have a folder with all their previous jobs in with breakdowns of materials used and completion timescales.

Once you have established a driveway specialist with a good track-record, next you want to establish if they can source the exact same materials you have identified but at a reduced cost. If they can, great, if not, do not worry as they will usually be able to source more standard materials (such as grout, hardcore etc) at reduced costs.

Finally, once you have found a driveway specialist with a great track record and good supplier contacts, you now need to discuss the project timeframe. First you need to establish how long the job will take to complete from start to finish (so you can make other arrangements with car parking etc). Once you have established this, next you need to establish if any external equipment is needed such as skips, diggers etc and if they can cost that into the job.

Once this has all been completed, it will usually be a case of signing a form and exchanging a deposit. You can then inform any neighbours that building work will be commencing for a period of time.

This articl was supplied by Moss Landscaping Cheshire who specialise in Driveways Cheshire & Surrounding Areas.

Filed Under: Driveways

How to find the best Landscaping Contractor for your needs

March 19, 2013 By

When it comes to hiring the services of a professional Landscaping Contractors, it can be quite difficult simply because the amount of different contractors in a particular area and not knowing how to find the really good ones whilst avoiding the bad ones.

In this article we will be discussing the key factors you need to know when choosing a contractor so that you can be guaranteed that whoever you choose, will do a good job and at a good price.

Below are some of the key factors you need to take into account when choosing the right contractor for you.

Background:

A professional landscaping contractor will be able to provide you with a portfolio of previous completed projects so you can inspect the quality, attention to detail and finish. If they cant provide a portfolio for you to browse, check their website. If they dont have a website then the chances are they are not as professional as you would think.

Ideas:

The really good landscaping contraxtors dont just do the work, they advise on potential designs and creative ideas. Although you may have a specific idea in your head as to how you want your project to look, by discussing it first with the contractor, they might be able to provide you with ideas that you never thought of originally.

Approach:

When it comes to actually doing the work, a professional landscaping contractor will always approach any project with a committed attitude to finish the job exactly how they said they would and within the deadline they set. When discussing your project with potential contractors, ask them if they will adhere to a deadline. If they dont, then they do not have a committed approach to finishing the project properly.

Protection:

One of the most important aspects people tend to overlook when hiring a landscaping contractor is that do they have any professional liabilty cover. There are always horror stories where a contractor has started work on a specific project only to rupture a water mains or gas pipe. If they dont have liability insurance then you could be liable for the costs of any repairwork so make sure that regardless of how professional they look, they have all the necessary insurance in place.

Filed Under: Driveways, Landscaping